A Win Is a Win, No Matter How Ugly

So here the Boston Red Sox are, a 1-6 team.

The Sox erupted for their finest offensive output of the season, and they needed every bit of it because John Lackey was less than spectacular — yet still good enough to keep the game close. Contrast that to the six-game losing streak, when twice the Sox scored five runs only to be blown out, then twice had decent pitching performances wasted by offensive ineptitude. A little luckier run distribution, and the Red Sox are 3-4 today.

Nevertheless, as a testament to small sample sizes, here is what Friday's outburst did for some Sox hitters' batting lines:

Dustin Pedroia (3 for 5, HR, 2 1B)

Before: .227/.261/.227//.488

After: .296/.321/.407//.728

Adrian Gonzalez (2 for 5, 2 1B)

Before: .304/.360/.522//.882

After: .321/.367/.500//.867

Kevin Youkilis (0 for 1, 3 BB)

Before: .105/.292/.211//.503

After: .100/.357/.200//.557

David Ortiz (2 for 4, 2B, 1B)

Before: .227/.292/.500//.792

After: .269/.321/.538//.860

J.D. Drew (2 for 4, 2 1B)

Before: .231/.286/.308//.593

After: .294/.333/.353//.686

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (2 for 4, 2B, 1B)

Before: .071/.188/.071//.259

After: .167/.250/.222//.472

They've still got a ways to go, but it sure feels good to shed that monkey.

“…A Win Is a Win, No Matter How Ugly…”
yep, congrats paul…must feel good to get that out of the way…and the fact that it came against decent competition is a good thing too…being 1-6 is not good no matter how you slice it, but if the lone win came against cleveland [who most don’t think are very good despite their 5-2 record] then i think that’s a different 1-6…and 3 of the sox losses came against a texas team that is still undefeated…i’m not getting all pollyanna here, so don’t get too comfortable with my niceness ;) , but as delicious as it might sound to me to have the sox languish in last place mediocrity all season, it would be bad for this site…and this is one of the first things i check every morning to see what everyone has to say…go sox…go yanks, let’s make this wire to wire fun

I think that today’s game could very well determine the success of this month. If the Sox win, they have momentum and know they won the series this weekend and could even gain a sweep against a division threat. If they lose they stare at CC tomorrow night and a 1-8 record potentially, which would be a further slide away from their competitors and the opposite of success, despite yesterday.

> momentum
Momentum is a confusing word when talking baseball. If “momentum” exists, and if we are to believe the dire predictions about ramifications of the Sox’ early-season difficulties, my biggest concern as a Yankees fan is the juggernaut what be the Baltimore Orioles. I, for one, welcome our orange-and-black overlords.

“I think that today’s game could very well determine the success of this month. If the Sox win, they have momentum and know they won the series this weekend and could even gain a sweep against a division threat.”
Wow, go back and read your words from yesterday morning. What an amazing contrast!